Rusling, Arendt named September's Student-Athletes of the Month

Oct 03, 2012

BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Lees-McRae College junior
Thomas Rusling (Sheffield, England) and sophomore Sam Arendt
(Franklinton, N.C.) have been named the Male and Female
Student-Athletes of the Month for September 2012, announced College
officials Wednesday.

Rusling has enjoyed a tremendous start to his junior season,
entering the month of October ranked 19th in the nation in total
saves (49) and 33rd in stops per match (4.9). A native of
Sheffield, England, Rusling has posted a trio of shutouts this
season, moving into fourth on the program’s all-time list
with 12 career clean sheets.

The junior netminder currently ranks third in program history in
goals against average (1.11) and fourth in wins (27) following
Saturday’s pivotal 1-0 extra time victory over reigning
Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament champion Coker
College. Rusling has also been heavily involved in the attacking
third for the Bobcats this season, leading the team with three
assists thus far.

Arendt put together a memorable month for the Green and Gold in
September, tallying a team-high four goals and finishing the first
month of the season second on the squad with nine points. The
Franklinton, N.C. tallied each of her four goals in just a
two-match span, finding the back of the net against Converse on
September 12 before pouring in a treble to power the Bobcats to a
5-1 victory over North Greenville on September 15.

For her efforts, the sophomore attacker was named the Conference
Carolinas Player of the Week for the first time in her career on
September 18, becoming the first Bobcat to earn the league’s
weekly honors this season. Arendt is currently ranked among
the national leaders in goals scored, and has also tallied an
assist this fall.

The Lees-McRae College Student-Athlete of the Month Award honors
one male and one female student-athlete each much from an in-season
sport during the 2012-2013 academic year, recognizing their hard
work, effort, and athletic performance.